The tradition of “School’s Out” concerts at Fairyland sponsored by Top 40 radio station WHB goes back farther than I realized in my earlier “World’s Happiest Broadcasters” post. Those events took place in the early 1970s. I have since found a newspaper ad (above) from June 1965 touting such a show with Len Barry of “1-2-3” fame as the headliner. That song came out the following month on Decca Records and went to #2 on the pop chart. I wonder if Barry sang it here? Anybody out there recall that show, or others at Fairyland?
As for Worlds of Fun, I recall seeing shows by Squeeze and Ray Charles in an outdoor amphitheater there, but it must not have been in 1980, the year this ad (below right) was published. The big-name headliners that year were Rick Nelson, Hall and Oates and Kool & the Gang.
I remember going to WoF to see a band but I can’t remember who it was. Maybe it’ll come to me…
The GoGos played at either Oceans of Fun or Worlds of Fun. I seem to remember them on water skis!!
i saw the marshall tucker band at worlds of fun in the mid 80s. probably 1986. seen the marshall tucker band many times through out the years and by far this was the crappiest. i blamed it on the setting.. dont know why setting shouldnt matter.
I think I recall seeing Quiet Riot and Ratt in 1983 at WOF Grad Night.
I remember going to a Carney Rock at Fairyland Park sometime in the mid-70s. There were four or five acts; I can only remember three: Brownsville Station, Nazareth, and Rare Earth. Rare Earth was not originally on the card, but their show (maybe at Memorial Hall) the day before was cancelled, so they re-scheduled and played the next day at Fairyland.
I went to the Carney Rock with Spirit, I think Dr Hook was there, and a number of others. It was very hot that day. I also was at Carney Rock 2, but I don’t remember much of the music. We went to the haunted house then on alot of rides, and heard very loud music while on the Wildcat, but I have no idea who was playing. It was very cold that day.
I remember going to Carney Rock end of July 1973 and seeing REO Speedwagon, Joe Walsh and others. Remember several people hanging off the speaker towers and a bunch of naked people walking around stoned. Awesome.
I saw Asleep At The Wheel with someone else there in the 70’s.
I went to both Carney Rocks, which were fun but the bands were not really A- list. The first was on July 18, 1973 and the second on Sept 16, 1973. The first featured Spirit, REO Speedwagon, Dr. Hook and Bachman Turner Overdrive. The second Carney Rock had Quicksilver, Nazareth, Rare Earth and Brownsville Station. I kept a list of all the concerts I’ve attended by date which helps, because otherwise I wouldn’t recall the dates and artists.
One story I can tell was watching the bumper car ride when the two guys from Dr. Hook were bumping into each other plus the other riders. (That’s right, the carnival rides were part of the experience of Carney Rock). The guy with the eye patch got really upset at some people because apparently he was getting bumped too hard (more likely he had been drinking too much). It didn’t get real ugly so it was somewhat humerous.
Another memory, I think it was the second Carney Rock, Flo and Eddie were scheduled but cancelled at the last minute. So my frend Mark and I kept yelling out for Flo and Eddie! and theneventually for Pink Floyd!!! We were just having fun but we were disappointed in the bands on that day.
By the way, this is potentially a great site. I would like to see posts about KCJC – 98.1FM, which was the first of two progressive underground radio stations in KC before KUDL, the other being KBEY 104.3 FM . Both stations were amazing to listen to back then and really opened my mind to the wonderful world of psychedelic, underground progressive, art rock, folk and jazz music- in all its forms in the late 60’s. Also, how about a page on KAAY’s Beaker Street with Clyde Clifford, which came out of Little Rock Ak. but came through well in KC (when it wasn’t stormy) in ’69-’71. Blue Rock Records was one of the shows sponsers, a cool record store in the Westport hippy district back then.
I went to the 1st Carney Rock, with REO Speedwagon. I remember riding the Wildcat and there were a lot of drugs around. I remember seeing this girl get on stage with REO and dancing across naked. She met the police when she got to the other side. I remember having a fun time and never been back
I saw the Sugar Hill Gang at WOF in around 1982, not sure of the year.
I remember two shows at WOF: KC and the Sunshine Band (maybe 1980) and Eurythmics (maybe 1983)
2 shows I went to at WoF… Jay Ferguson and the other was Flock of Seaguls.. No stubs.. Thinking the admission ticket got you in the concert…
From 1972 to 1989 I had a band in KC by the name of Union Station. We played many Grad Nights at WOF. On August 3, 1976 we played with Head East there also. I remember the date well. As we were packing up our equipment after the park had closed I had my radio in the band van blasting away when the news came on. Jerry Litton won the Democratic Party candidacy for the US Senate. Jerry, his wife Sharon and 2 kids died in a plane crash as they were taking off for a victory celebration in KC from a small airport in Chillicothe, MO. Many in both parties touted Jerry as being the next John Kennedy. He was 39 years old. A sad ending to a great night of music.
Saw Lemon Pipers at Fairyland about the time of Green Tambourine, me and friend helped unload their amps etc.
Saw Brownsville Station, Dr. Hook, QMS, at different times there as well. I went to see Blue Oyster Cult, but they didn’t show. Also went to see Foghat, even met them at old Municipal Airport near NKC, their equipment was all set up, but due to the small crowd (we assumed) they wouldn’t and didn’t play. This would have been on their first US tour, but not sure of date.
I have a Carney Rock 2 poster, cardboard, with all the bands names, etc., trying to find out what its worth, if any, it is framed under glass, some, very little water damage in one corner, was given to me by a friend, OX, when he found out I could not make it to that concert, cool poster.
Around ’72-’73 at Fairyland my girlfriend and I saw King Harvest do their hit Dancing In
The Moonlight. One of the band members signed my girlfriends tit with a magic marker. This was quite a different Fairyland than the one my grandmother had taken me too as a child. Starting to get old, with some of the rides not able to run anymore. Lovets of hippies with drugs.
Around ’72-’73 at Fairyland my girlfriend and I saw King Harvest do their hit Dancing In
The Moonlight. One of the band members signed my girlfriends tit with a magic marker. This was quite a different Fairyland than the one my grandmother had taken me to as a child. Starting to get old, with some of the rides not able to run anymore. Lots
of hippies with drugs.
There were more than two Carney Rocks at Fairyland. In the summer of 1975, a hot lineup on a hot day included Bob Seger, Climax Blues Band, Blue Oyster Cult and Styx. Bringing your own coolers full of beer/liquor was perfectly acceptable, and the air was scented with a fabulous aroma all day. The open field was set up so that no matter where you spread a blanket, your view would be fabulous. The bands ALL brought their A-game! It is a day I’ll remember as one of the best days of my youth.
Was Blue Rock Records connected with River City Records in Lawrence circa 1970. Owned by McGrannahan and later became Ride-On Bicycles?
My ex-wife worked at Worlds Of Fun in 1979 and they had a yearbook published. There was a picture of The Baby’s in it so they played there then.
I interviewed Mickey Dolenz, Peter Tork, Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart at WoF in the summer of 1975 when they appeared in a Monkees’ tribute show. I was working at WHB at the time and taped the interview between shows. Wish I could remember the date and wish I still had the cassette I did the interview on!
I attended the first three Carney Rock gigs. Some of the things others have said happened I don’t recall seeing. Of course I was pretty much blown away at each one, especially the first. I recall seeing REO and was only 20 or 30 feet from the stage. Gary Richrath gave my date a REO guitar pick, which she thought was cool. Had he invited her with him, I’m sure I would have lost my date. To paraphrase an old wise man, Shit Happens…
And WHB with Johnny Dolan and the Friday top forty play list. I even recall going to a Johnny Dolan sock hop. That was in the mid 60s. Was not getting buzzed then and Johnny Dolan was cool. Then off to Koya’s Castle somewhere in the Kansas City Kansas area to see the Kingsman. Sure I spelled the places name incorrectly. That was 1967…God, what a long time ago. I was blonde hair with blue eyes and always had a deep summer tan. Wanted to be from California…Took a few more years to get there.
I remember the first Carney Rock where Ed Cassidy used the stage for his drum solo, that was pretty cool.
Can’t believe some recalls Johnny Dolon and WHB. WOW! He had a “sock hop” (what ever that is) in 1967 at the Hamilton MO HS gym. Please!!! Get me outta here…And the guy above attended a 1067 Kingsman concert at Koyas castle. I was there with my date. What a trip!!! I too, had blonde hair, blue eyes and a deep tan and finally made in to California in 1978.
And for the Carney Rock gigs, I attended those, too. The first one had Spirit. REO and others. I didn’t know who REO was at the time, but that day I had 3 hits of Lucy and 10 hits of speed goin’ around my brain and a wad of 5 pieces of bubble gum in my mouth and I was a “chewin” hard. REO blew me away. I immediately got REO 2 lp and was on my way. I’d have to say I’ve seen REO at least a dozen times. God…those were they days of freedom, peace, sex and rock & rock. What happened? Now we have white nationalists and other crazys. They want to destroy the government but they are like a dog chasing a car. If he ever caught it, he wouldn’t know what to do with it…
The guy talking about KUDL and KBEY…I’d forgotten about them. I do remember KAAY and Beeker Street with Clyde Clifford. Broadcasting 50,000 watts from Little Rock. I do recall KUDL game to find the missing “U” somewhere throughout greater KC area. If you found it, you won a car…A new small Japanese model…WOW!!! And LOVE records in Westport. I still have used lp’s stamped with LOVE Record name on them. What a trip…
I remember the show at fairyland with Dr. Hook. The girl that was standing right beside us threw off her clothes and got on stage. The cops chased her around and over the trailers. She got away and came back to her friends got her cloths.. Later we were parked right next to her group. She was still half naked,with a blanket to cover, very attractive. She was high as hell, must of been tripping like my bunch.. Then there was a biker gang took over the stage.. lol The rancid riders.. That was a yellow double domb event. Fun Times